Music
Press
From clevescene.com
Originally published by Cleveland Scene Jun 23, 2004
©2004 New Times, Inc. All rights reserved.
B.J. O'Malley
Good Girls Get the Blues (Little Town Records)
BY D.X. FERRIS
On the cover of Good Girls Get the Blues, a frowning B.J. O'Malley squats in front of a bar, holding a bottle of Jack Daniel's in her tattooed arms. Believe it or not, it's a triumphant scene. As "Nashville" relates, after years of dressing like Patsy Cline, O'Malley took a good look at Tennessee, listened to its blond beauties, and headed home, deciding that the Midwest has the best country music. And the Youngstown girl's fifth album in four years makes a helluva case.
O'Malley's band spreads its old-time country evenly between moods and tempos, wielding an accordion, fiddle, and mandolin. The fast-picking stomp "One Drink at a Time" recounts an evening of pot, madness, and vigorous sex, and "Sweet Baby" showcases the difference between whining and songwriting: "I saw your deception in the mirror's reflection/It was you that caused my infection . . . I'm feeling queasy/My head is sore/You were my baby/Not anymore." With heartbreak like this, the girl who wanted to be a country hero might get her wish.
- dx ferris
BJ O'Malley
(Country/CowPunk)
Her bio describes her as an "Old-Time Country singer/songwriter and twice-divorced hairdresser" and, in her front-page Web site photo, she's swigging from a bottle of Jack Daniels and smoking a cigarette. She's clearly not someone to be messed with, but, without some interference (from within and without), O'Malley wouldn't be able to write the songs she performs. From her murder ballads to her dark lullabies to her raucous Country Punk, her music is nothing like the slick, over-produced "product" being churned out of Nashville these days. Honest, kick-ass and with just enough grit on the pretty to make her interesting, Niles, Ohio native O'Malley is a different kind of Dixie chick.
Dale Johnson - Cincy Beat
Reclaiming Country music back from those supermodel wannabes and plastic Pop producers, BJ O'Malley's music has the bratty fire and anti-establishment fervor of the most raucous C&W forefathers and mothers. A gifted songwriter and awesome renovator of traditional Country music, she's warmed up stages for like-minded rebel rousers like Hank Williams III, Junior Brown and even Gretchen Wilson.
- (MB)
"Beg, borrow, or steal this album. Better yet, buy it and support the biggest bundle of talent I've heard and seen in a long time."
Charlie Saber, WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland
"well .. what can I say .. GOOD GIRLS GET THE BLUES is the best Old-Time Country I've heard in ages .. so
good/real/unpretentious ... it hurts! .. totally LOVE the CD! This is exactly the way I understand *Country Music* "
L O R D L I T T E R
DJ/Promoter/musician
- Various
Discography
Sweet Baby Freaker 2007, In Love and Decay 2005, Good Girls Get the Blues 2004, We Are Cockamamy Wailers 2004, West Virginia 2003, The Last Heartbreak 2001, The All Night Benders 2000
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Traditional Country, Blues, and Old School Punk influenced Singer/Songwriter from Youngstown,OH, with a voice so powerful she could fill an auditorium with sound without the need of a mic, and so sad you can't help but believe she has lived the heartache of which she sings.
Plays solo gigs and with a back up band.
BJ Has opened for BR5-49, Hank III, Kasey Chambers, Junior Brown, Neko Case, Laura Cantrell, The Derailers, Tim Easton, Amy Farris, Gretchen Wilson, Johnny Dowd, Chris Scruggs, Tift Merritt, The Moaners, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Gary Allen, etc.
BJ O'malley will will provide a swift kick in your musical ass, followed by a sly wink over her tattooed shoulder.
Links
